Destination Showcase: Mountain Creek Bike Park, New Jersey

Not far off the I-87 buried in the northern tip of New Jersey state, lies Mountain Creek Resort and Bike Park. The mountain itself is located in Vernon, a small town in Sussex County that is primarily rolling hills and agriculture. The grounds are roughly 167 acres of skiable terrain, however only the main peak is currently being used for chair accessed trails with eventual plans to expand. Mountain Creek also hosts one of the country’s first water parks. Action Park opened its doors in 1978 with slides integrated into the forest and other natural features. Much of the success to this destination is thanks to its proximity to the bigger North-Eastern U.S. cities. The resort is an hour’s drive from New York City and 60kms from Newark Liberty International Airport with many shuttle services available from both.

When thinking of New Jersey, most assume the shore as an obvious destination but looking inland, beyond the turnpike, can very well be just as exciting. Along with the riding and waterpark, there is the famous Appalachian trail if you’re into hiking that runs through the north end of the town. There are also a couple of diners and steakhouses worth checking out that come with an authentic Jersey attitude. Fun fact – you can sing karaoke every night of the week somewhere in Vernon if you choose to.




Mountain Creek has been passed through a few hands since 1999, and with that came a few hardships and identity changes. After a fire and suspended operations, Clay Harper and partner Shawn Orrechio proposed and leased the land from the then owners and created Diablo Freeride Park in 2003. The Diablo days saw a slew of high-profile events, the birthplace of the U.S. Open series, and of course growth in the mountain bike community for the area. It was known to be hardcore with drops and rocks everywhere. Eventually, in 2012, the resort took back the land, restored the name, and with that began cutting trails that would cater to a much larger demographic of riders with the help of George Ryan as lead trail builder and machine operator. The history of the bike park is truly embedded in the town. Along with George, other veteran pros, such as Aaron Chase, Lars Tribus, Eric Porter, Jurgen Beneke, and Jeff Lenosky to name a few, made their marks there early in their careers.










Mountain Creek has always featured rocky terrain and recently now added a freeride flavor. When Hugh and the crew took over in 2012, beginner and intermediate trails were the main focus. The gnar is alive and well but now everyone can ride the mountain. George has shaped a handful of trails that encourage progression all the way to the top.






George Ryan is no stranger to the Mountain Creek community. He was a member of the race team at 17 years old before competing professionally in downhill, slopestyle, and in dirt jump competitions. He’s now the head of the Trail Crüe and continues to shape the future of the park.











I guess you can say Mountain Creek Resort has been in good hands since 2012 when Hugh Reynolds took over as Bike Park Director and George Ryan began on the trails. The park is certainly catering to every level of rider. Whether you're just starting out or need some help, bike camps are run all summer long to help you meet your goals. The rock gardens are properly technical and the flow tracks will have you in the air most of the way down. Once you're done with your ride, you can check out the water park or the town. Vernon is said to be the Vermont of New Jersey and it sure welcomes you in that sense. There's the Mixing Bowl diner to give a try and don't forget the Dairy Swirl ice cream shop. The mountain is always changing and adapting to give its visitors the best experience this side of NYC with a great riding community to go with it. Come for the perfect lips and landings, stay for the karaoke.



Long before the bike park days, Mountain Creek's only summer attraction was its unique water park which opened in 1978. Most of its slides and pools were built into the side of the mountain with a concrete base through the trees. Now, only the lower portion of the original rides are still in operation offering a number of options and even a cliff jump area. It's a great way to cool off with friends and family.




The Biergarten is ready to serve your meals and post-ride cold ones. It is also the meeting place for podiums and karaoke after some fun at the Thursday Night Race League held, you guessed it, every Thursday on a section of trail picked the day of.





Mountain Creek Bike Park mountain biking trails


Presented by Mountain Creek Resort